DOH Expects Rise In Number Of Patients Availing Of Dengue Vaccine In The Private Sector

Department of Health (DOH) officials said they are foreseeing a possible increase in the number of patients in private hospitals and clinics who will be availing themselves of the first anti-dengue vaccine in the world.

“We are expecting that in the private sector, there will be a lot of patients who will avail of the vaccine,” DOH Secretary Janette L. Garin said after the World Health Organization-Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (WHO-SAGE) on immunization came out with its findings and recommendations on the new Dengvaxia dengue vaccine.

The WHO’s overall assessment cited that introducing anti-dengue vaccination in high transmission settings can have a substantial public health impact in particular by reducing the rate of hospitalization due to severe dengue.

Secretary Garin said she is also expecting that other countries will now be availing of the new dengue vaccine developed by the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur.

She explained that what matters most is that the country has been able to negotiate the dengue vaccine at a much lower price that is currently benefiting grade 4 public students in three regions of the country targeted for the program called “free dengue immunization in school-based setting.”

The free vaccination against dengue is being undertaken by the DOH as one of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s proofs of steadfast commitment in reducing the health barriers among the rich and the poor by ensuring that the anti-dengue vaccine, which only the rich can normally afford, be also be made available to the poor and vulnerable sectors that need them most at an affordable price.

Under the anti-dengue immunization program, children who are in grade 4 with the age of nine years and studying in public schools in the National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon and Calabarzon are qualified to receive the vaccine.

NCR is composed of 16 cities and one municipality in Metropolitan Manila, while Central Luzon or Region III comprises the provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales.

On the other hand, Calabarzon or Region IV-A is composed of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.

It can be recalled that the government negotiated with the officials of Sanofi Pasteur and asked them how they could support the government’s immunization program and up to what price they could offer the vaccine as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR).

As result, it was agreed upon that Sanofi Pasteur will exhibit its CSR by offering a “special price” that is affordable by the government.

Secretary Garin said that what really matters now is that the discounted cost of the vaccine will persist as specified in the contract which is in fact favorable to the students who will receive protection against severe dengue and high costs of hospitalization.

She cited the importance of the contract that specifies the discounted price of Php3,000 for three doses of the vaccine since an increase of demand normally happens when WHO starts recommending any vaccine.

“And usually, prices go up after the WHO recommendation is issued,” she said.

The anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia was issued with license by the Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Dengvaxia is also registered and licensed in other countries such as Mexico and Brazil.

The use of the vaccine was approved after more than 20 years of clinical trials and research. (PNA) SCS/LSJ